Pneumatic tire.



W. E. COPITHORN. PNEUMATIG TIRE.

APPLICATION `FILED 111111.11. 1910.

1,121,0?0. Patented Dec. 15, 19141l 2 SHBBTS-SEEBT 1.

W. E. COPITHORN PNEUMATIG mz. APPLICATION ILID-11AR.9. 1910. Patented Deo. 15, 1914 2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

"een srarne rasierer ermee..

' WALTER E. COPITHORW. CF NATIGK.`1VIASSACHUSETTS.

NEUMATIC TIRE.

nieuwe Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914i.

Application tiled March 9. 1910. Serialy No. 548,315.

tion. like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to pneumatic tires.

and has for its object 4to provide a tire with a novel detachable tread surface which is non-puncturable and which can be readily removed when it becomes worn so that a fresh unworn tread surface can be substitilted therefor. In this way practically a new tire can be secured without the excessive cost involved in purchasing a new tire complete.

The features wherein my invention re'4 sides will be first described and then point-- ed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein l have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention. Figure l is a side View ot a wheel having my tire applied thereto; Fig` 2 'is an enlarged section through the tire and a portion of the rim on the line .rm-fr, Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on substantially the line 2 2, Fig. :2; Fig. 4 is a detail view ot' a portion of the body of the tire.

The pneumatic tire comprises an inner tube 3 of usual construction, a body portion or casing l which contains the inner tube. and a tread portion 5 which is dctachably connected to the body portion. The body portion fi is oi' novel construction and formed of a strip 6 of leather which extends around the tire on the tread side thereo'l and to which a plurality of separate cross pieces 7 are connected. Vhen the body ot' the casing is first made. it will have something' oif the appearance shownin Fia. 4 with'the' pieces 7 toi-ming separate latcrally-extending wings, but whenthe basing' is given lts proper shapedthe wings 7 are bent downwardiy to form the sides of the tire. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. and the end ot' each is bent back on itsell and secured to the body thereofl to *form the wire-receiving loop l. The cross pieces or wings T are ot such a shape that when the tire is formed they will fit tightiy together to make the side of the casing as seen in Figs. l and 2. A casing: thus made has a solid tread and sectional sides. l pret'cr to use leather lor the strip ti and the cross pieces T because olt its cheapness and good wearing' qualities. although any suitable material might be used for these parts. 'The wings or cross pieces 7 may he secured to the strips (i in a variety oi' ways. but will preferably be sewed there to by stitches ll), as .seen in Fig'. l. I will preferably place a liningr ll ot canvas or some. other similar material between the inner tube l and the casino; because since -Ithe sides oi' the casingr are uiade of independent sections 7, it will be advantageous not to have the inner `tube contact directly with it. lVires 24 are inserted through the wirel-receivingr hooks S. thus forming a bead on the body ot' the tire, which bead is held between 'the clamping flanges 2Q and 23 ot the rim 21.

The tread portion 5 oi' the tire is detachably secured to the body or .'asinggr so that when' one tread portion has become worn, it may be removed and another one may be substituted therefor. My invention contemplates rarions ways in which this detachable Itread portion may be made and secured to the casing. ln the present embodiment, the body ot` the tire has secured thereto and cx tending: therefrom at suitable intervals pairs ot' screws 12 and. the tread section has embedded therein nuts 15% which are adapted to screw onto the screws l2. 'lhe screws 1Q will extend loosely through apertures Vl'ormed m the sections (S and 7 with the head oi: the screw on the inside of the section '7. as clearly seen in Figi'. i)

The tread section 5 can be made in any suitable way and of any suitable material. it will `preferably be formed ol rubber in which is embedded one or more layers ot' canvas 1l for giving itbody and shape, and in making the tread sections the nuts i3 will be molded therein. The tread section will also preferably be provided with an inner 'Facing' l5 ot' some non-puncturablc material7 such, tor instance., as very inc woven wire fabric.y which when the tire is rouiplcted is interposed between the tread section and the body. having embedded therein chains or similar flexible connections lb which connect the' nuts 13 of each pair, and strips of canvas or similar material 17 may be placed in the links of the chains, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. rl'hesc strips are preferably cmnparativcly short` strips and the strips ol. the adjacent I have also shown thc trcad section as lll) -what l claim as newT chains overlap each other, as clearly seenin Fig. 3. lA have also shown wires 19 embedded in the tread section and to which the edge of one vof the fabric layers 1.4 may be secured.

ln order to apply the tread to the tire it is .l

necessary that the casing should be removed from the rim and the inner'tube 3 and lining 11 removed from the casing. lllhen this is done, the heads of the screws l2 are accessible and the bod y of. the casing may be placed within the tread 5, and the screws may then be entered into the nuts 13. Similarly in removing the tread the tire must be re- 'moved from the rim so as to render the screws lf2 accessible. f

The tread portion is extremely strong and will withstand a great deal of wear, but when it does become worn i'hs'can be readily removedrand a new one put in its place. Further the presence of the Wire fabricl nralres the tire practically non-puncturable;

The rim of the wheel have any suitable construction. have herein shown it as 'made with the section 20 which forms a permanent part of the wheel and with Vthe demountable section 2l which may be seeur'edto the wheel in any approved way.

Having fully described my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is1 f 1 l. In a' pneumatic tire, the combination with an inner tube, or a shoe or casing for said inner tube comprising abody having screws extending outwardly therefrom and arranged in pairs, the screws of each pair being on opposite sides of the center, a detachable tread portion having -nuts ein-- bedded therein and adapted' to loe engaged by said screws, chains embedded in the tread portion and connecting the nuts of each l l have herein described.

nieuwek pair, and a non-punctin'able lining for said tread portion.

2. ln a pneumatic tire, the combination with an inner tube, of a shoe or casing inclosing the inner tube and giving support to and holding the latter in shape, said shoe or casing being-formed of a strip ofleather extending around the tread of the tire and comparatively narrow cross piecesI` secured centrally to said strip and extending beyond the same on each side thereof, the projecting portions of the cross pieces being disconnected from each other and shaped to engage each other edge to edge, each cross piece having a loop ,at each end, two Wire rings, one threaded through the loops ateach edge of the tire, said rings serving both to hold the shoe o r casing in shape and to furnish edges to be gripped by a elencher rim, a detachable tread portion having nuts embedded therein, and screwsanchored inthe leather strip and cross pieces and engaging said nuts.

3. In a pneumatic tire, the combination with an inner tube,'of a shoe creasing for said inner tube comprising a bod)T having screws extending outwardly therefrom and arranged in pairs, a detachable tread portion separate from the body and having nuts embedded therein and adapted to be engaged by said screws, chains connecting the nuts of each pair, and strips or' fabric extending through the links of the chain and embedded in the tread portion.

4In testimonv whereof, l have signed my naine to this'specication, in the presence of twosubsribing witnesses.

Dn. VALTER EL COPlTHORN.

Witnesses 1 Louis C. SMrrH, THOMAS J. DBUMMOND. 

